Hand carried liquid dispenser



Nov. 20, 1956 E. A. BOERGER HAND CARRIED LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Feb.l5,1955 INVENTOR Earl JV; Boerye?" ATTORNEY-5 HAND CARRIED LIQUID DISPENSEREarl Arthur Boerger, South Jacksonville, Fla.

Application February 15, 1955, Serial No. 488,253

9 Claims. (Cl. 222-210) This invention relates to dispensers, and moreparticularly to dispensers for liquids such as soap, shampoos, perfumesand the like, which dispensers are adapted to be carried by the hand.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved liquiddispenser of the above type, which is especially easy and convenient touse, and extremely effective in its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved liquiddispenser as above set forth, which is dependable in ejecting the liquidas desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved dispenser inaccordance with the above, which cannot easily slip cit or out of thehand of the user.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel dispenser asabove characterized, which may be substantially completely emptied ofits contents when desired.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improvedliquid dispenser of the type described, which is of simple constructionwith relatively few easily assembled components, and which is capable ofbeing readily economically produced in large volume.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a dispenseras above outlined, wherein semiautomatic valve means is provided toreadily control the amount of liquid being dispensed.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a dispenser made in accordance withthe invention, the approximate position of the hand of the user beingshown in broken outline.

Fig. 2 is a section, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the dispenser.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, in section, of the orifice and valve meansof the dispenser.

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the attaching means of the dispenser.

Referring to the figures, the improved liquid dispenser of the presentinvention comprises a container which preferably has an oval outline asillustrated in Fig. l and is formed of flexible front and rear walls 11and 12. The container 10 may be constructed of any suitable materialsuch as rubber or rubber-like substance, or flexible plastic.

By this invention, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the container 10 is soorganized and arranged that it will readily fit against the back of thehand 13 of a user, and may be readily attached thereto. Also, inaccordance with the invention the container 10, particularly the frontwall 11 thereof, is provided with an elongate passage means 14 adaptedto extend between the fingers 15 and 16 of the users hand. The passagemeans 14, Fig. 4, is provided with an orifice 18 by which liquid 19 suchas liquid soap, shampoo, perfume, etc., which is carried in thecontainer 10 may be discharged therefrom into the palm of the hand. Theorifice 18 comprises a relatively short tube formed of flexible rubber,plastic or other like maice terial having a base portion fitted over ashort nipple 20 which is fitted within the passage means 14 andconstitutes a portion thereof.

In accordance with the present invention I provide a novel valve member21 in the orifice 18, by which the discharge of liquid from thecontainer '10 may be automatically effected and controlled. The valvemember 21 is tubular, having an enlarged end or head portion 22 offrusto-conical configuration, said head portion having a passage 23communicating with the bore 24 of the stem portion of the valve. When,as shown in Fig. 4, the orifice 13 is deformed as by lateral force beingexerted thereon, the valve 21 will be tilted and the head portion 22thereof will be unseated from the lower end of the nipple 20. Liquid maythen flow quite freely through the nipple and through the valve 21, tobe discharged from the orifice 18. When the lateral force is removedfrom the orifice 18 it will resume its normal symmetrical shape, causingthe head 22 of the valve to be tightly seated against the lower end ofthe nipple 20. The valve 21 will thus close ofl the nipple and preventpassage of fluid from the container 10.

I have found that by the normal movements of the hand, occurring duringmassage or manipulation, the orifice 18 will be automaticallyperiodically deformed, opening the valve and allowing fluid to pass intothe palm area of the hand. The deformation of the orifice 18 and openingof the valve may be readily controlled at the will of the user, and thusthe liquid soap or other contents 19 of the container 10 may be readilydischarged as desired.

For the purpose of aiding in the distribtuion of the discharged liquid Iprovide a skirt 25 of flexible plastic or like material, having slits 26forming elongate fingers 27 which extend along opposite sides of theorifice 18. As shown in Fig. 4, the fingers 27 tend to distribute orspread the liquid as it is discharged from the orifice 18.

By the present invention I provide a simple and novel means by which thecontainer 10 may be easily and quickly attached to the hand 13 of theuser, said means aiding in the discharge of the liquid contents of thecontainer. Referring to Figs. 1-3 and 5 this means comprises a flexiblestrap 29 having a plurality of projections 30 disposed at both endportions in centralized rows, the projections being uniformly spacedfrom each other. The strap 29 is provided with a central opening 31enabling it to be passed over the passage means 14 of the container, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3. On the container 10 I provide an elongate tiemember 32 extending across the back wall 12 thereof. The tie member 32may be conveniently formed of a metal strip, and its extremities may beshaped in the form of curls 33 to accommodate hooks 34 arranged toreceive the end portions of the strap 29. By virtue of the projections36 on the strap 29 the latter may be held in different adjustedpositions in the hooks 34. Preferably the strap 29 is formed ofaresilient stretchable material such as rubber, so that it may be heldunder tension when it is supporting the container 10 on the back of thehand. Thus, as may be readily seen in Fig. 2, the strap 29 will exert acontinual force on the back wall 12 of the container, tending tocollapse the same and eject the liquid contents thereof from the orifice18. As the container 10 becomes emptied, the strap 29 may be tightenedby readjusting it in the hooks 34, to continue the discharge 1 pressureon the container.

For the purpose of enabling the container 10 to be easily and quicklyfilled, a threaded port 36 is provided in the back wall 12, said portbeing normally closed by a screw cap 37, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

It will be readily seen from the foregoing, that by the presentinvention I have provided a simple, novel and improved, hand-carrieddispenser by which liquid substances may be readily discharged indesired quantities as required by the user. The dispenser is relativelySmall, light in weight, compact, and comprises but few parts which maybe readily fabricated. The cost of producing the dispenser is low, andit is effective and reliable in its operation by virtue of the few,relativelymovable parts.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claimsand portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for liquids comprising a container having a substantiallyflat side arranged to be mounted against and engage the back of the handof a user; an elongate passage means connected with the fiat side ofsaid container and providing an orifice, said means extending laterallyfrom the said flat side a distance commensurate with the thickness ofthe fingers and being adapted to extend between the fingers of the hand,said means further having a flexible and deformable normallyolosed valvewhich opens in response to lateral pressure on and deformation of it;and fastening means attached to said container, for attaching the sameto the back of the hand.

2. A dispenser for liquids comprising a container having a substantiallyflat side arranged to be mounted against and engage the back of the handof a user; an elongate passage means connected with the flat side ofsaid container and providing an orifice, said means extending laterallyfrom the said fiat side a distance commensurate with :the thickness ofthe fingers and being adapted to extend between the fingers of the hand,said means further having a flexible and deformable normally-closedvalve which opens in response to lateral pressure on and deformation ofit; and fastening means attached to said container, for attaching thesame to the back of the hand, said container having deformable walls,and said fastening means tending to collapse the said walls and ejectthe contents of the container therefrom.

3. A dispenser for liquids comprising a container having a substantiallyflat side arranged to be mounted against and engage the back of the handof a user; an elongate passage means connected with the flat side ofsaid container and providing an orifice, said means extending laterallyfrom the said flat side a distance commensurate with the thickness ofthe fingers and being adapted to extend between the fingers of the hand,said means further having a flexible and deformable normallyclosed valvewhich opens in response to lateral pressure on and deformation of it;and fastening means attached to said container, for attaching the sameto the back of the hand, said container having deformable walls, andsaid fastening means tending to collapse the said walls and eject thecontents of the container therefrom, said fastening means comprising anelastic band encircling the hand and secured to an outer wall of thecontainer, tending to collapse the same.

4. A dispenser for liquids comprising a container having a substantiallyflat side arranged to be mounted against and engage the back of the handof a user; an elongate passage means connected with the fiat side ofsaid container and providing an orifice, said means extending laterallyfrom the said flat side a distance cornrnensurate with the thickness ofthe fingers and being adapted to extend between the fingers of the hand,said means further having a flexible and deformable normallyclosed valvewhich opens in response to lateral pressure on and deformation of it;fastening means attached to said container, for attaching the same tothe back of the hand, said container having deformable walls, and saidfastening means tending to collapse the said walls and eject thecontents of the container therefrom, said fastening means comprising anelastic band encircling the hand and secured to an outer wall of thecontainer, tending to collapse the same; and means for adjustablysecuring the band to the said outer wall to regulate the tension of theband as the container empties.

5. A dispenser for liquids comprising a container having a substantiallyflat side arranged to be mounted against and engage the back of the handof a user; an elongate passage means connected with the flat side ofsaid container and providing an orifice, said means extending late"allyfrom the said flat side a distance commensurate with the thickness ofthe fingers and being adapted .to extend between the fingers of thehand, said means further having a flexible and deformablenormally-closed valve which opens in response to lateral pressure on anddeformation of it; and fastening means attached to said container, forattaching the same to the back of the hand, said fastening meanscomprising a band extending across a wall of the container and having anopening to provide clearance for the passage means.

6. A dispenser for liquids comprising a container having a substantiallyflat side arranged to be mounted against and engage the back of the handof a user; an elongate passage means connected with the fiat side ofsaid container and providing an orifice, said means extending laterallyfrom the said fiat side a distance commensurate with the thickness ofthe fingers and being adapted to extend between the fingers of the hand,said means further having a flexible and deformable normallyclosed valvewhich opens in response to lateral pressure on and deformation of it:and fastening means attached to said container, for attaching the sameto the back of the hand, said passage means comprising a flexible tubeof plastic composition.

7. A dispenser for liquids comprising a container having a substantiallyflat side arranged to be mounted against and engage the back of the handof a user; an elongate passage means connected with the flat side ofsaid container and providing an orifice, said means extending laterallyfrom the said flat side a distance commensurate with the thickness ofthe fingers and being adapted to extend between the fingers of the hand,said means further having a flexible and deformable normallyclosed valvewhich opens in response to lateral pressure on and deformation of it;fastening means attached to said container, for attaching the same tothe back of the hand; and flexible fingers extending alongside theexterior of the passage means to distribute the liquid dischargedtherefrom.

8. A dispenser for liquids comprising a container having a substantiallyflat side arranged to be mounted against and engage the back of the handof a user; an elongate passage means connected with the flat side ofsaid container and providing an orifice, said means extending laterallyfrom the said flat side a distance commensurate with the thickness ofthe fingers and being adapted to extend between the fingers of the hand,said means further having .a flexible and deformable normally- :closedvalve which opens in response to lateral pressure on and deformation ofit; fastening means attached to said container, for attaching the sameto the back of the hand; flexible fingers extending alongside theexterior of the passage means to distribute the liquid dischargedtherefrom; and a skirt extending around the passage means, having slitsproviding the said flexible fingers.

9. A dispenser for liquids comprising a container arranged to be mountedagainst the back of the hand of a user; an elongate passage meansconnected with said container and providing an orifice, said means beingadapted to extend between the fingers of the hand and having normallyclosed valve means which opens in response to lateral pressure on anddeformation of said means; fastening means attached to said container,for attaching the same to the back of the hand, said container havingdeformable walls and said fastening means comprising an elastic 'bandsecured to an outer wall of the container,

tending to collapse the same and eject the contents of References Citedin the file of this patent the container; and means for adjustablysecuring the hand to said outer wall to regulate the tension of the bandas UNITED STATES PATENTS the container empties, said adjustable securingmeans 886,984 Jopling May 5, 1908 comprising a hook on the container andsaid band having 5 2,356,722 Ham-is Aug. 22, 1944 projections spacedalong it at intervals, for engagement with said hook.

